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So I went to the dealer for a minor electrical problem and they told me my bushings were torn and needed new ones, plus tires, plus alignment for $2,200.
So I buy the tires myself online, and get them installed locally, who say the bushings look fine. But I did get an alignment as my (old) tires were very worn on the inside, so I knew something was wrong.
While I saved a bunch of money ($600 for tires, $150 for alignment and balancing), I'm thinking of getting new bushings anyway. I'm at 75,000 miles, so if my bushings are okay, they won't be for long, right?
So finally to my question: if I get new bushings (or a whole new control arm since it may be less in labor costs), do I need a realignment right afterward if I just had one prior to the service? I don't know how badly taking off suspension parts and putting them back on is going to affect the alignment that was just done...
If you're at 75K your bushings are shot. Period. If you are replacing the original bushings with OE replacements (purchased as a complete unit, bushings and brackets) then you don't necessarily need an alignment, at least in my experience. And, to my knowledge no one replaces the control arms during this exercise to save money in labor costs, since it doesn't.
You need to get an alignment after you have your bushings replaced. Go to your local MINI mechanic (not the dealer) and see how much it'll cost you to have the bushings replaced. Unless your control arms are damaged, you should not need to replace them.
If you're possibly going to track your car in the near future, you may want to look at getting adjustable lower control arms for the rear.
It might be a good idea to go with the poly inserts,i installed the Powerflex back in Jan with no regrets,another weak point is the strut tower oem bushings along with mushrooming strut towers,both of these OEM bushings have a reasonably short life.
When the tire place did the alignment it was right until they pulled it off the rack. I bet dimes to dollars the alignment is now out. Why? becuase the bad bushings allow the front control arm to move around too much and there goes the tires.
If the MINI was build before Jan 2005 or is lowered you may also need a set of rear LCA. Feel free to PM or call me with any Q's, Dustin
